After 16 years abroad, I moved back to my native Sweden. My husband is Austrian and we met in the US where I lived from 1996-2006, and then we moved to Alp-land aka Austria where we lived til 2013. I am still trying to get over that culture shock.
We have two kids. Vincent, our first born was born on May 12, 2006 with an extra chromosome aka Down syndrome (Translocation 21;21). Edgar was born October 10, 2009, but only 46 chromosomes there.
I admit to thinking it was the end of our world when we got the results of the blood test showing our son had DS, 5 days after Vince was born. I was so wrong! Though everything is not easy, life is a lot of fun! That extra chromosome really did not change much.

I started running again in 2011 and completed my first half marathon in October 2011. In 2012 I completed two half marathons and a handful of other races. Running is now a big part of my life and I run at least five days a week. Both for fun and for peace of mind. I am starting to think a full marathon would be fun. Maybe in 2014...

Ever since a friend told me about a park in the south of Styria I have been wanting to go. It is about 40 min car ride from here. Today we had the overly energetic idea of riding bikes to the trainstation, board the train with our bikes and then go to Ehrenhaussen get off the train and then ride our bikes to the Gamlitz Gross Motor Park a few miles from the train station. The kids were in the bike trailer. It was sun and blue skies in Graz when we left, about three stations later the grey and the fog was everywhere. We still had a great day though and if my kids do not sleep well after that, I do not know.

First of all, if you ever come to Styria, this is a must go to place. With or without kids. It is a gross motor park (apparently the largest in Europe), and it is located around a little lake. All around the lake are stations where you practice different gross motor skills. Climbing, jumping, swinging, balancing etc.
Secondly it is free. Does not cost anything!
Thirdly it is really big but so many different stations that it really does not matter if it is crowded.

With that said, warning for picture overload!

These were wooden boards supported by springs, some more wobbly than others. It looks like he misses the jump, but he did not.

This was similar to asurf board kind of and was moving side to side with every move. Vince loved it. On the second picture you can see (kind of) how great the angle actually was.

This climbing area was great, the poles are alphabetically named showing in what order to climb (if you want to).

A balancing beam, also set on springs to add more difficulty. It also had different little steps on it like wider/narrower, a part where longer steos were needed, some mini stairs etc.

Working on balance again, this one was hard, but Vince did great.

A giant swing with a ball game inside it. Zou are supposed to get the ball all the way in the middle

Vince absolute favorite thing. Testing goal oriented gripping, balancing, arm strength, swinging, falling with style and a lot more other skills I am sure. The man in yellow flying around is Mr B.